Dish washing machine



June 13, 1967 c. E, FREESE 3,324,867

DISH WASHING MACHINE INVENTOR. CHARLES E. FREES'E June 13, 1967 C. E. FREE-ISE DISH WASHING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OG-IO? los-|09 "2mg :o4-|05 o "3 005D@ ne H9 lOl FIG.3

E yall 2|9 L g l 255:1: INVENTOR als /202 CHARLES E. FREEsE FIG 5 L United States Patent O 3,324,867 DISH WASHING MACHINE Charles E. Freese, 2916 Homer Ave., Erie, Pa. 16506 Filed Apr. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 448,921 2 Claims. (Cl. 134-99) This invention relates generally to dishwashing machines of the type known as the stationary rack, hood type as used in commercial dining establishments; however, the principle used herein could be used for spray washing-apparatus employed for other purposes.

An object of this invention is to furnish a means of uniformly spraying objects for both above and below within an area of minimum size in a simple inexpensive manner.

Another object of the invention is to achieve the foregoing advantages with conventional square racks for the parts being sprayed.

Still `another object of the invention is to supply means of meeting National Sanitation Foundation standards and other health board standards for such machines.

A further object of the invention is to create a machine which is simple to operate, to keep clean, and which has a minimum number of parts` Still a further object of the invention is to furnish an oscillating system with a minimum number of sprays to effectively spray a given area.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention shown installed in a dishwashing machine on which the tank sideV is cut away to show the working parts;

FIG, 2 is a rear view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 with the back tank wall cut away;

FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention showing a different means of mounting the spray pipes;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the machine shown in FIG. 3 showing planar coverage of the spray pipes and other working parts; and

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of still another embodiment of the invention.

Now with more specific reference to the drawings, in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a wash spray system or spray pipe assembly is shown composed of a centrifugal pump 1 driven by a motor 2 which circulates water from a tank sump 18 through a main pipe 3 to spray pipes 4, 5, and 6. Also attached to this system are rinse spray pipes 7, 8, and 9 connected to a water source through a flexible hose 10. The spray pipe assembly pivots about the joint 11 through which water from the pump flows. A link 12 connects the pipe 3 to a crank 13. A power source which can be, for example, motor M, has its shaft connected to the crank 13 and turns the crank, causing the spray pipe system to oscillate back and forth at a suitable speed.

The spray from the pipes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 is thus distributed uniformly over the dishes 14 in rack 15 from both above and below. The uniformity of this spray is affected by the position of the spray pipes, the angle of spray from the spray nozzles, and the arc of oscillation of the spray system with relation to the dishes 14. The system is contained in tank 16 and hood 17. As the water 3,324,867 Patented June 13, 1967 is sprayed over the dishes, it falls down into the tank 16 which empties into the sump 18. A refuse screen 19 is supported in the tank 16 above the bottom thereof. Screen 19 catches the solids washed from the dishes. It is understood that the system is completed by the usual drain, overflow, heater, switches, timer, thermostat, and valves -associated with such apparatus, all of which are well known to those skilled in the art.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a wash spray system similar to that in FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the mounting and configuration of the spray pipes. A pump 101 is driven by a motor 102. The efiiuent from pump 101 is connected to the power wash spray pipes 104, 105, 106, and 107 through a swivel joint 11S and supply pipe 103. Rinse spray pipes 108, 109, 110, 111 are attached mechanically to the wash lCe spray pipes and receive a suitable water supply through a flexible hose 112. The whole spray pipe assembly is oscillated back and forth by means of a scotch yoke 113 which is attached to the spray pipes and to crank 114 which is turned by a suitable power source at the proper speed.

Objects 120 which `are shown as dishes repose in a basket 121. The basket 121 is shown in FIG. 4 in outline only. FIG. 4 is a top view showing how the spray pipes cover the planar area of the contents of the basket 121 and, also, how the spray pipes are shaped, The joint 115 allows the spray pipes to swivel land to oscillate. The system is contained in a tank 116 and a hood 117 and is attached to the tank 116. Sump 118 maintains water for the pump 101. A screen 119 supported over sump 118 catches solids which are washed from the objects.

This system allows the objects 120 which are shown as dishes to be sprayed from above and below uniformly with a vertical or nearly vertical spray with a minimum of spray nozzles. It allows this to be done in a smaller area and a simpler mechanism than with many other systems.

FIG. 5 shows another` embodiment of the invention disclosing a 4pump known as a submersible pump. The motor 202 shown has a vertical shaft and is close coupled to the pump impeller. Pump 201 is a submersible centrifugal pump driven by the electric motor 202 and is disposed in a sump 218 below a screen 219. The pump 201 is cond nected to a pipe 211 by a coupling 215.

The above described oscillating system of spray pipes has definite advantages over other comparable systems. The most important is the uniformity of spray over the entire dish area as compared to either fixed sprays or rotating sprays. A fixed spray system would require a very large number of spray nozzles to produce an equivalent spray pattern. A rotating spray head approaches the effectiveness of the oscillating spray but Wastes a great por-tion of the spray when used in conjunction with the conventional square dish rack. The oscillating spray system takes little more space than the fixed spray system and much less than the rotating spray system. The oscillating system will spray dishes from more different angles than either of the other systems; yet, the spray from the oscillating spray system will be more nearly vertical. Long narrow objects such as drinking glasses are more effectively `cleansed by a vertical or nearly vertical spray. Intermittent sprays which are used in the oscillating system are more effective than a steady spray for a given quantity of water and, especially, for a rinsing operation.

The oscillating system has fewer interconnecting pipes and fewer spray nozzles and is potentially less expensive and takes up 1ess room than other said systems. It is also potentially much easier to clean and keep in operating condition.

While the above description shows and describes some of the most effective uses and configurations for the in- 3 vention, it will be understood that other variations and uses may be employed without departing from the intent of the invention for the unique and original features.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are dened as follows:

1. A washing machine comprising a tank, first and second generally vertically inclined main pipes in said tank attached together and extending generally parallel -to each other, vertically spaced horizontally disposed spray pipes attached to said main pipes, means to support objects to be washed between said spray pipes, nozzle means on said spray pipes for directing uid from said main pipes onto said objects, and means to oscillate said main pipes whereby said spray pipes are oscillated from side to side in said tank so that all of said objects will be effectively sprayed, a first said spray pipe is provided attached to said first main pipe above said objects, a second said spray pipe is provided attached to said `second main pipe above said objects, a third said spray pipe is provided below said objects connected to said first main pipe, and a fourth said spray pipe is provided connected to and attached to said second main pipe below said objects, and rinse fluid means connected to said first main pipe, and wash fluid means connected to said second main plpe, said wash iiuid means comprises a sump in the bottom of said tank, a pump in said sump, and a motor connected to said pump, said pump being adapted to circulate uid from said sump through said second main pipe and through said second and fourth spray pipes, said motor and pump are submerged in said sump. 2. A washing machine comprising a tank, iirst and second generally vertically inclined main pipes in said tank attached together and extending generally parallel to each other,

vertically spaced horizontally disposedspray pipes at-` tached to said main pipes,

means to support objects to be washed between said spray pipes,

and nozzle means on said spray pipes for directing iiuid from said main pipes onto said objects,

said main pipes being supported to rotate about their longitudinal axes,

whereby said spray pipes are oscillated through a generally planar path above said objects and below said objects,

a first said spray pipe is provided attached to said first main pipe above said objects,

a second said spray pipe is provided attached to said second main pipe above said objects,

a third said spray pipe is provided below said objects connected to said first main pipe,

and a fourth said spray pipe is provided connected to and attached to said second main pipe below said objects,

rinse tiuid means connected to said first main pipe,

and wash fluid means connected to said second main plpe,

said wash liuid means comprising a sump n the bottom of said tank,

a submersible pump in said sump,

and a submersible motor connected to said pump and submerged in said sump,

said pump being adapted to circulate fiuid from said sump through said second main pipe and through said second and fourth spray pipes.

References Cited l UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,154,559 4/1939 Bilde 134-188 X 2,392,540 1/1946 Lyman 134-180 X 2,682,881 7/1954 Bocchino.

2,708,446 5/1955 Phillips 134-180 X 3,083,718 4/1963 Heinicke 134-174 X 3,130,676 4/1964 Beaulieu 134--169 X 3,242,934 3/1966 Heinicke et al 134--99 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING A TANK, FIRST AND SECOND GENERALLY VERTICALLY INCLINED MAIN PIPES IN SAID TANK ATTACHED TOGETHER AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, VERTICALLY SPACED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SPRAY PIPES ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN PIPES, MEANS TO SUPPORT OBJECTS TO BE WASHED BETWEEN SAID SPRAY PIPES, NOZZLE MEANS ON SAID SPRAY PIPES FOR DIRECTING FLUID FROM SAID MAIN PIPES ONTO SAID OBJECTS, AND MEANS TO OSCILLATE SAID MAIN PIPES WHEREBY SAID SPRAY PIPES ARE OSCILLATED FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN SAID TANK SO THAT ALL OF SAID OBJECTS WILL BE EFFECTIVELY SPRAYED, A FIRST SAID SPRAY PIPE IS PROVIDED ATTACHED TO SAID FIRST MAIN PIPE ABOVE SAID OBJECTS, A SECOND SAID SPRAY PIPE IS PROVIDED ATTACHED TO SAID SECOND MAIN PIPE ABOVE SAID OBJECTS, A THIRD SAID SPRAY PIPE IS PROVIDED BELOW SAID OBJECTS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST MAIN PIPE, AND A FOURTH SAID SPRAY PIPE IS PROVIDED CONNECTED TO AND ATTACHED TO SAID SECOND MAIN PIPE BELOW SAID OBJECTS, 